hard japanese swimbaits?

[rboat]

I have saved up some extra cash and would like some help on picking 1 or 2 of the best of the hard japanese swimbaits. There are many out there and these things are so expensive and I want to make sure I get a proven winner. Please help with kind and color and best place to order. Raul and several others on this site are experts on the japanese stuff, so please help a guy get started. Thanks.

[fourbizz]

Why oh why are you looking only at japanese hard baits?

[Raul]

I don 't have it yet ( just ordered it ) but if the Imakatsu Magum BuzzBill works half as good as K.Imae shows it sure is a killer bait, big 16 cm bait that doesn 't need a swimbait rod ( 1 1/2 oz ). Around 45 dollars.

I do have Jackall 's Godon, great slow sinking swimbait that also dosen 't need a swimbait rod either you can find them for around 30 dollars.

Gan Craft 's Ayuja Jointed Claw is also another good one, it swims in a very lifelike S pattern, like the other two, you don 't need a swimbait rod ( 1 1/2 oz ). Not extremely expensive, if you shop around you can find it for around $30.

Do an e-bay search with the names and you 'll find several e-bay stores that have them at a good price. Don 't order now to japanese sites, it 's the Japan Internationa Fishing Show until next week and all the sellers are there, your order is processed but not shipped until after the show.

Tackle Warehouse has some good Japanese hard swimbaits: Fish Arrow, Jackall, Lucky Craft, Deps, so you can also purchase them there. Gonna try my LC Real Californias and Real California Premium this weekend, as soon as I see how they move I can give a better insight on them.

[T-rig]

This is a awesome swimbait. Megabass Limberlamber. 6" and sinking. Swims in a s-shape.

[T-rig]

Here are a few more:

1. Shimano Triple Impact lipless 6.5",  1.5 oz. , sinking

2. TH Tackle Bassmass Minnow  8,8" ,  13/4 oz. floating

3. Jackall 180 jr. 6,2" , 1.5 oz. sinking and floating models available

[Supermat]

T-Rig,

 Crazy! They even rip each other off on the japanese market! Your second bait is a rip-off of the Imakatsu Hasuzzy. http://www.imakatsu.co.jp/products/pro_a010.html

As for the japanese baits, I've noticed that they are never quite as realistic as the baits you can buy here at home. Some of our very own bait makers are blowing the rest of the world away, including the japanese market. This guy is the first that comes to mind... www.316lurecompany.com

[Raul]

The only problem is that for casting the Hasuzzy is he needs a true swimbait rod with 3 ounces of weight is far from the weight casting capabilities of a heavy action flipping stick.

[Fish Chris]

none of these lures are as effective as the Hud. I have tons of big bass buddies who use every new swimbait that comes out. Most of these lures seem to catch fish every now and again, but none come close to the Hud. I keep watching closely though, and as soon as a swimbait.... any swimbait, hard or soft, shows some real promise, as to being more effective than the Hud, I'll buy a few and give them a solid shake.

I've even told Ken Huddleston more than once, "You know I think your trout is absolutely the best on the market, and you know its all I use"...... "HOWEVER, should somebody come out with something that produces better, then I will have to make that switch.... It wouldn't be anything personal. I still think Ken is a great guy. But I will always use whatever works the best".

Again though, like I said, I have tons of friends, including one real, hard-core trophy bass circle, who use the heck out of every swimbait on the market. Those guys are "at least" as good of trophy bass anglers as I am {probably better} so I have all the confidence in the world that if something better comes around, it won't get by them. But so far, nothing.

Peace,

Fish

[Supermat]

Raul,

 I don't see the problem with that... he ought to use a "swimbait" rod anyway if he wants to get serious about it. The topic isn't, "what is the lightest weight japanese bait that I can get?" its, "what's the best bait?" Typically your heavier hardbaits will be better baits as they've been built more consistantly with better components and are a lot less likely to break from abuse or from the strain of the fight.

[rboat]

Thanks for the info. I was just looking for a couple of proven baits to try and see if I can get bit. I am not ready to jump into swimbaits, fully, where I need a special rod and the whole works. Soft swimbaits are definately proven fish catchers especially out west. I just like the looks of the hard baits. The fit and finish is really outstanding. If nothing else, when I get too old to fish I will have some great looking lures to display or pass on to my son. Thanks again.

[Fish Chris]

> If nothing else, when I get too old to fish I will have some great looking lures to display or pass on to my son. <

Yes, some of the hard baits are definately collectible works of art, which is why I would recommend keeping them in pristine "unused" condition, on the fireplace mantel where they belong :-)

Then you can feed those "disposable" soft plastic swimbaits to the hawg bass ! ;-)

Peace,

Fish

[T-rig]

Supermat,

The Hasuzzy is nothing like the TH Tackle Bassmass Minnow. The weight for one. The hasuzzy is also a 3 piece lure and the Bassmass is a 2 piece.

Teiji Hamada, which is the designer of the Bassmass, used work for Jackall and there are some similarities to the Jackall swimbaits.

www.t-hamada.com

[T-rig]

Arsenale Swimbait ( CC Baits ) .

[bass109]

wow, T-rig those are some expensive baits, nice ;D

[Supermat]

T-rig,

 You can't tell me that you don't see the similarities in those two baits. They're IDENTICAL except that he dropped a joint, everything else about them is the same. Anyway, I checked out the rest of his stuff and he's got some neat ideas, especially in soft plastics. Have you ever ordered from him or picked his stuff up somewhere else? Also, why in the world do ALL japanese companies make their rainbow trout look so funky? Anyone ever notice that? A Foiled bait just doesn't look like a trout and that's that. I've never understood why they continue to make baits that way. THIS looks like a trout!

[fourbizz]

See now that is what a hard bait is supposed to be. Hand made in america. Just because its japanese doesnt mean its good.

[T-rig]

Supermat,

I usually buy my tackle here:   www.ichibantackle.com

[Fish Chris]

Hey these are some very cool looking swimbaits, but those hard plastic bills will be responsible for SOOOO many "non-hookups" or "lame hook-ups" which quickly come unbottoned. Sure, I caught a lot of big fish back in the day, on the Castaic hard head / soft bodied trout, but that hard plastic bill also cost me a TON of them.... and that in itself is the biggest reason that I throw the Hud now.

Peace,

Fish

[roadwarrior]

I have nothing in terms of lure suggestions to add to this thread, but I do have a question or two:

Given Fish_Chris' credentials, why would you consider using any other lure?

And as a follow-up, why would you buy a more expensive bait that is (probably) less effective?

[fourbizz]

I have nothing in terms of lure suggestions to add to this thread, but I do have a question or two:

Given Fish_Chris' credentials, why would you consider using any other lure?

And as a follow-up, why would you buy a more expensive bait that is (probably) less effective?

For the same reason we don't all use Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft.

Just because a respected person backs it 100% doesn't mean that its the ONLY option.

You also have to realize that Fish Chris isn't after "little" 10 pounders anymore. LOL. He is after 15+ fish and that the Hudd is the best way to do it.

I think that hardbaits work pretty well on the smaller 4-10 pound fish.

[cowie]

my favorite swim bait are:

- Evergreen ESDRIVE

- Imakatsu Husky Hasuzzy

- Imakatsu Cofunazzy

- Evergreen Timberflash

- Maderalive Molix

I bought it on www.fishingevolution.it

[roadwarrior]

fourbizzle,

I've seen the pictures some of your hawgs. Why would you target "little" bass?

[fourbizz]

Because that is all I can catch !!!!!!!

I like hardbaits. Out of my few bigger fish most have been on hardbaits, but not my 13.

Hardbaits have a much, much higher hookup ratio, and they don't get thrown as often. Usually you get them with one 2/0 treble in the lip, and then the bait swings down and get get another treble in the gill plate. They are much lighter proportionately speaking, so they are harder for the fish to shake off. They last alot longer. They are also, arguably, more effective at night than soft baits. They just don't tend to get the kind of bites that soft baits appear to, especially on our fish that have seen a ton of big baits. On dumber lakes, I feel like the gap narrows between the two.

Thats my take, but then again fish chris is like 73 times ( thats an exact number) better than me, so you should probably listen to him!

[Supermat]

The Hud is an incredibly effective lure... truly incredible, but there are times when its not the best option. Fish Chris, a good friend of mine, will admit that he sometimes struggles with the big bass at this time of year. I firmly believe that part of that stems from his choice of baits. There are times when an ultra-realistic, lifelike bait are not the best choice. It took me a long time to grasp that but I believe there are times when a hard surface bait or a hard slow sinking bait will work better BECAUSE their action is slightly mechanical. I've personally seen it matter. That said, MOST of my big fish still come on the ultra-realistic baits.

Matt

[bass109]

husky hasuzzy swimbait